Rio de Janeiro: Four players from the Brazilian football club Palmas Futebol e Regatas along with the president of the club died in a tragic plane crash in Brazil on Sunday (January 24).
As per reports from the club, the victims were identified as players Lucas Praxedes, Guilherme Noé, Ranule and Marcus Molinari along with the president Lucas Meira and the pilot with no possible survivors. The cause of the accident has yet to be discovered.
“The plane took off and crashed at the end of the runway at the Tocantinense Aviation Association. We regret to report there are no survivors,” the Palmas said in a statement.
Founded in 1997, Palmas Futebol e Regatas compete in the Brazilian fourth division. Their flight was heading towards Goiania, where Palmas were scheduled to face Vila Nova on Monday in the last 16 of the Copa Verde, a tournament usually being reserved for teams outside the heavyweights of the southern and northeastern region of the Samba nation.
Another Brazilian club Chapecoense, who itself experienced a similar kind of tragedy back in 2016 where a plane crash killed their 19 players have exhibited their grief towards Palmas.
“Unfortunately, we know what this moment of pain is like and we wish that no other group had to feel the same. You won’t go through this alone.”
According to the club spokesperson Izabela Martins, they were travelling separately in a private flight after being tested positive for COVID-19 with the last Sunday being their final day of isolation while the rest of the squad travelled on a commercial flight.
FIFA offers its condolences after a plane crash tragically claimed six lives in Brazil – including five members of Palmas Futebol e Regatas. Football extends its deepest sympathies to the victims and their families at this difficult time.
— FIFA.com (@FIFAcom) January 24, 2021
FIFA tweeted expressing its condolences towards the victims. “Football extends its deepest sympathies to the victims and their families at this difficult time,” FIFA said. While Alejandro Domínguez, the president of South America’s football body CONMEBOL, also offered his condolences,
“I deeply regret the plane crash that affected Palmas,” he said on Twitter. “My condolences to all those who make up the club, family and friends at this sad time,” he said.
The Brazilian Football Confederation(CBF) expressed its sympathy towards Palmas’ family members as well as the fans in an official note while ordering a minute of silence in all matches played on Sunday.
